Last Thoughts

My decision to visit Honduras was casually made and slowly formed. I have friends who both came here alone. They were my inspiration. Isn't it true that often our fears, real or imagined, hold us back from doing things that will enrich our lives?

In a simple way, that happened to me in Copan. It was only after Yarely took me through "The Red Light District" that I realized Copan had so much more to offer in other interesting barrios. But I'd been reluctant to scout around. So it was only the day before yesterday that I became footsy enough to explore areas that would have seemed too dodgy before. Too bad.

I so much wanted to visit another coffee plantation. But I needed to find someone else for a tour. And as I asked the folks in the office, "What do I do -- just drag someone in from the street?"

I wanted more time to improve my facility with the language too. But that would have been selfish. I might come back here. For sure I'll often be in contact with at least three Hondurans.

I've thought a lot about this country over these few weeks. I hope I haven't bored you. I met a traveller at the airport who said, "Honduras needs a revolution. Other Central American countries have had one and are in much better shape. The country needs leaders from cities and towns to organize the people to fight for freedom from corruption. And yes, there will be blood. But unfortunately, our people don't yet have the collective will."

As I've since discovered, much U.S. aid is going into the pockets of politicians. I wonder if it would be better for America to stop funding the wealthy.

So that's what Honduras needs, I thought. No small piece of work. And yet, this option makes absolute sense, unfortunately.

I will join you again when my life takes another turn. My hope over the next months is to develop a body of paintings. For some reason, painting has been a fear I've had to conquer. It's been harder than learning how to fly.

But as I've discovered over and over again, "Fear is the thief of dreams." A few months from now, I hope to get in touch with you again to show you my work. And Bob and I are going to Ecuador in November. For sure I'll post from there.

I'd like to leave you for now with a question and a statement:

What is your unfinished business? and "The world is your oyster."

Roots in the soil. Branches in revolution.

It's complicated.

Hope.

My thoughts are with you.

Hasta la vista.

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Scouting Around

I'd like you to meet a couple of people I've spent time with this last week. The first is three year old Cristabel, cute as a button. We've had some good conversations she and I. So today when she came into the eating area, a vision in pink, I asked her if I could take her photo. "Si," she said and immediately struck this pose.

 

Cristabel

 

 

 

 

"Where did you learn to pose like that?" I asked her. She probably wondered why I was laughing. "Another?" she asked, running to get her purse.

 

purse in hand

Where do kids learn this stuff? Her grandmother, Dona Elena, has lived in the house for 50 years. When Elena's husband died 15 years ago, she asked herself, Where to from here?

 

Dona Elena cooking over her wood fired stove

Over the years, as dribbles of money came in, she added rooms to the home her husband built when she was a bride of 18. Now it's a handsome B & B.

 

looking out from the dining area

 

Most houses edge up to the street. I imagine that some might be lovely once through the door.

La Casa de Dona Elena

Today, all of a sudden, the school's director told me that my tomorrow morning's bus had been cancelled. "You have options, though," he said. "There's a bus leaving in a couple of hours for San Pedro Sula."

If you've ever visited Nelson B.C. in the winter, you know all about cancellations. In fact, the nearest airport town to Nelson is nicknamed "Cancelgar." So, well practiced in transportation changes, I rushed to the B & B, packed my bags and had time to take a few shots of the neighbourhood.

 

you get used to the poverty

 

 

Honduras' future

I'm in San Pedro now. Luckily, the B&B where I stayed three weeks ago had a room. It's probably better I'm here. As the owner said, "You never know, the bus could run into a mudslide or an accident.

I'll post again tomorrow.

Hasta pronto

 

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